Catch device



p 1930. H. 'J. w. TRAUMULLER 1,773,332

CATCH DEVICE Filed Sept. 18, 1928 INVENTOR /ArI I W7W;/er

Patented Sept 9, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HARRY J. W. TRAUMI'SLLER, or BROOKLYN, new onx carbon DEVICE Application filed September 18, 1928 Serial no. soavsa This invention relates to catch devices and particularly to devices of this class adapted boxes or cases of various kinds and classes,

tensional means being provided to normally support the catch plate in predetermined or locked position, and means involving a button arranged-externally of the boxor case, permitting the movement of said catch plate into inoperative position against the action of said 'tensional means to release the cover of the box or case; and with these and other objects in view, the invention consists in a device of theclass andfor the purpose specified which is simple in construction, eflicient in use, andwhich is constructed ashereinafter described and claimed. 7

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawing forms a part, in which the separate parts of my improvement are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and inwhicht- Fig. 1 is a side and sectional view ofa box or caseshowing one form of my improved catglh device mounted in connection there- W Fig. 2 is a plan view of the structure shown inFig. 1 with parts broken away.

Fig. 3 is a partial section on the line 33 Fig. L is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing only a part of the construction and showing a modification; and,

Fig. 5 is a view similar to 3 butshowing the modification illustrated in Fig. 4:.

For the purpose of illustrating one use of my invention, I have shown in the accompanying drawing the separate parts 10 and 11 of a box or casewhich as will be apparent may be of any desired shape, form, size or contour, the part 10 representing the. bottom of thebox orcase and the part 11 the cover. Said parts are hinged at one side as seen at 12, and each part 10 and 11 may be provided with felt, velouror other facings and paddings as seen at 13, Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawing.

In the manufacture of boxes or cases of the class under consideration and particularly the catch devices thereof, it has been customary to provide almovable catch or latch plate on the box member proper which projected above the upper surface of the walls of the box member, thus presenting a rather sharp metallic element which oftentimes would engage the hand of a person when extended into the box'member to remove an.

article therefrom, causing injury to the hand. It is the distinctive feature of my invention to'provide a device with a movable catch or latch platecontained within the boundaries of the upper face of the walls of the box member 10. l y

In the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, I have indicated at 14, one of my improved catch or latch plates or members which as seen in said figuresinvolves a top wall member 15 arranged at right angles to the vertical plane of the walls of the box 10 and provided with an elongated aperture 16, said plate including a part 17 arranged adjacent the front wall 10 of the box member 10 and provided with a button member 18 slidably engaging the wall 10 and projecting outwardly therefrom to permit of the inward movement of the plate 14.- This plate also: includes an elongated guide portion 19 arranged in parallel relation to the bottom wall 10 of the box and arranged upon a mounting plate 20 secured to the wall 10", said plate having oppositely disposed guide flanges 21 engaging opposite sides of the guide portion 19 to retain the same in proper alinement in the inward and outward movement of the plate or member 14. The inner end of the portion 19 is provided with an upwardly directed tongue 19* stamped from the material thereof, which is adapted to engage the central portion of a spring wire 22 the ends of which are retained on the plate 20 by similar tongues 20 stamped from said plate. The spring wire 22 is normally under tension and serves to support the vertical wall 17 of the member 14 against the inner surface of the wall 10 of the box and said member 1a is moved inwardly against the tension of the spring 22 by the button 18 or by the latch member 23 mounted in connection with the cover 11. The member 23 is in the form of a sheet metal plate, note Fig. 3, and this plate is provided centrally with a downwardly extending and tapered catch member 23 adapted to pass through the aperture 16 in the part 15 of the member 14 and further to engage said part 15 to secure the cover 11 to the box proper 10, see Fig. 1 of the drawing.

The structure shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawing differs primarily from that shownin Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive in the manner of mounting the latch member in connection with the box 10. In this construction, the member 14 is designated at 14, the top plate of said member being indicated at 15, the aperture at 16, the vertical wall at 17 a and the knob or button at 18 The member 14* does not include the part 19, and instead of providing the mounting plate 20, I substitute therefor the mounting plate 24 which is secured to the inner face of the upright wall 10 of the box and is provided at its ends with keepers 25 for engaging the ends of a, spring wire 26, the central portion of said wire normally bearing upon the inner face of the upright portion 17 of the member 14 to sup port the same in a locked position. In this construction, the member 23 is identical with that seen in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive and includes the latch part 23 adapted to engage the top plate 15 of the member 14?.

While I have shown two forms of construction for carrying my invention into eflect and have also indicated one particular type of tensional means for controlling the operation of the latch'member, it will be understood that I am not necessarily limited to the details of construction herein shown and described, and various other changes in and modifications of the construction herein set out may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing its ad vantages.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A latch for boxes comprising a container and a hinged cover for closing said container, one member of the latch comprising an elongated sheet metal mounting plate attached to and lying flat upon one inside surface of said container, a latch. plate movable with respect to the central portion of T said mounting plate, a spring rod, the ends of which are attached to the ends of said mounting plate and the central portion of which cooperates with said latch plate to normally hold the same in closed position, said cover having a member projecting from the lower face thereof and adapted to be engaged by said latch plate to support the cover in closed position, and a pin constituting part of the latch plate and projecting outward- 1y through one wall of the container whereby said plate may be moved under the tension of said spring bar into position to release said member permitting the movement of the cover into open position.

2. A latch for boxes comprising a container and a hinged cover for closing said container, one member of the latch compri ing an elongated sheet metal mounting plate attached to and lying flat upon one inside surface of said container, a latch plate movble with respect to the central portion of said mounting plate, a spring rod, the ends of which are attached to the ends of said m ounting plate and the central portion of which cooperates with said latch plate to normally hold the same in closed position, said. cover having a member projecting from the lower face thereof and adapted to be engaged by said latch plate to support the cover in closed position, a pin constituting part of the latch plate and projecting outwardly through one wall of the container whereby said plate may be moved under the tension of said. spring bar into position to release said member permitting the movement of the cover into open position, said latch plate being substantially L-shaped in cross sectional form and one flange thereof being arranged adjacent and in alinement with the top wall of the container and having an aperture through which the member on said cover is adapted to pass.

3. A latch for boxes comprising a container and a hinged cover for closing said container, one member of the latch comprising an elongated sheet metal mounting plate attached to and lying flat upon one inside surface of said container, a latch plate movable with respect to the central portion of said mounting plate, a spring rod, the ends of which are attachedlto the endsof said mounting plate and the central portion of which cooperates with said latch plate to normally hold the same in closed position, said cover having a member projecting from the lower face thereof and adapted to be engaged by said latch plate to support the cover in closed position, a pin constituting part of the latch plate and projecting outwardly through one wall of the container whereby said plate may be moved under the tension of said spring bar into position to release said member permitting the move ment of the cover into open position, and means on said mounting plate for guiding the latch thereto.

4. A latch for boxes comprising a container and a hinged cover for closing said container, one member of the latch comprising an elongated sheet metal mounting plate attached to and lying flat upon. one

inside surface of said container, a latch plate movable with respect to the central portion of said mounting plate, a spring rod, the ends of which are attached to the ends of said mounting plate and the central portion of which cooperates with said latch plate to normally hold the same in closed position, said cover having a member projecting from the lower face thereof and adapted to be en gaged by said latch plate to support the cover in closed position, a pin constituting part of the latch plate and projectingoutwardly through one wall of the container whereby said plate may be moved under the tension of said spring bar into position to release said member permitting the movement of the cover into open position, means on said mounting plate for guiding the latch plate in its movement relatively thereto, and means on the latch plate cooperating with said spring bar to prevent displacement of said bar with respect thereto; 7 i

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name this 14th day of Sept, 1928. Y

HARRY J. W. TRAUMULLER.

plate in its movement relatively 

